Knitting machine and method



March 16, 1943. R. c. AMIDON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD- Filed March 4, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z] nae/Mom 077/ y ami March 16, 1943. 'R. c. AMIDON KNITTING NHLGI'IINE AND METHOD Filed March 4, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 I zjwucm b Hay CAmtEoru 9 1/4 Mun... V 5% \T UlE-EE March 16, 1943. R. c. AMIDON 'KfiITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 4, 1941 --rrr-1 Ray C.

March 16, 1943. RC. AMIDON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4, 1941 7'2 03 a/ miian 1943. R; c. AMIDON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD March 16,

Filed March 4, 1941 1o Sheets-Sheet 5 H056 Amzdon I Mmh 16, 1943. R. c. AMXDON 2,313,725

March 16, 1943. R.C.AM1DON 7 I 2,313,725

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 4, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheei 7 I March 16, 1943. R, c, MOON 2,313,725

x I TIN on March 16, 1943.

R. c, AMIDON KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 4, 1941 1o Sheet S-Sheet 9 Qiq I srwmam R427 CATfiidOVb March 16, 1943. R. c. AMI DON KfiITTING MACHINE AND METHOD l0 Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed March 4, 1941 Roy 0. Aaa'u/am Patented Mar. 16, 1943 7 2,313,725 KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Roy 0. Amidon, St. Johnsville, N. Y., assignor to Vanity Fair Mills,.Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 4, 1941, Serial No. 381,717 40 Claims. (ores-1) My invention, which relates to the art of knitting, has especial relation to that branch of the art in which the knitting function is performed through a previously woven base fabric or other suitable sheet material.

The invention has for an object to provide a new and improved machine inwhich the use of bearded needles is avoided and in which the.

parts are so designed and co-related that a greater speed of operation may be attained than is possible with tricot machines or other machines employing needles of the bearded types.

Again, it is an object to provide a machine that can be constructed at comparatively low cost and one whose maintenance expense will be at a minimum.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a enlarged detail cross sectional View of a portion of the machine, also taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. l

Figs. 6 to 11. inclusive are enlarged diagrammaticcross-sectional views illustrating the movements of the needles, the awls and the loopers.

Fig. 12 is a detail section onthe line l2-l2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a detail section on the line. |3-I3 of Fig, 10.

Fig. 14 is a front needle.

Fig. 15 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 16 isa detail view in rear elevation of a portion of the machine hereinafter specifically referred to.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of one awl block. and its awls.

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail view of the awl operating mechanism.

elevation of a portion of a Fig. 20 is a further detail of a portion of the same.

Fig. 21 is a detail view of the looper mechanism.

Fig. 22 is a detail perspective view of one of the looper hooks.

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a fabric such as the machine knits.

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing a modification hereinafter specifically referred to.

In the drawings, in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, I represents the right end frame standard,2 the left end frame standard, and 3 the intermediate frame standards of which there may be one or more according to the width of the machine. These standards are connected by brace rods 4 and brace tubes 5 into a rigid frame structure.

Extending the full width of the machine and secured to the intermediate standards 3 by bolts H5 (Fig. 5) and to the end frames I and 2 by end bolts H6, is a main supporting bar 6 to the back of which, at suitable intervals, brackets 1 are attached. The brackets I carry bars 8 which support the stationary guides 9. The guides 9 have their blades provided with longitudinal slots I8 and slots H which serve to ease the loops around the awls in the upward movement. The

blades may also have needle guides H4 (Fig. 13) ifdesired.

Mounted on the intermediate standards 3 are brackets I2 which have bearings for the cam shaft i3 and rock-shafts l4, l5 and IS. The brackets l have bearings for the looper rockshaft ll to which a suitable number of arms l9 are secured. The arms [9 carry, adjustably, pins 2| which slide in holes in arms 20 that are secured to the looper bar [8, and also have pins 22 operating in holes in arms 19. In this way arms l9 carry the looper bar l8 while permitting endwise movement of the same,,as will later more fully appear. The looper blade units 23 are secured to the bar I8 (see Figs. 5 and 16). Each unit 23 comprises a predetermined number of looper blades 24 whose ends are formed into hooks 25, which hooks have inclined edges 26 (see Fig. 22) to permit the thread to be drawn off the hooks on the up-stroke of the needles.

The looper bar i8 is moved bodily forward and backward by means of one or more arms 21 and cams 30, the arms 21 having cam-engaging rollers 28 and adjustable means'29, therefor.

A spring 3| holds the roller 28 to its cam.

32 designates the awl-carrying bar which is pivotally carried at 31 on arms 36 that are secured to shaft I4 (Fig. 19).

Awl units 33 are suitably secured to the bar 32 and each unit has a predetermined number of awls 34. The awls are grooved at 35 to receive and guide the needles. The awls are raised and lowered by a cam 38 which engages rollers 39 on the arm 36.

Secured to the bar 32 is a short arm 48 to which one end of a Connecting rod 42 is adjustably connected; the other end of the rod 42 is adjustably connected to one arm of a rocking lever 4| which is mounted on shaft l8 and has a cam'-engaging roller 44 on its other arm to cooperate with the awl bar rocking cam 43. A spring 45 connects arm 48 with lever 4| and keeps roller 44 in engagement with cam 43.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5, it will be seen that 48 indicates the needle bar slideway in which the needle bar 41 has endwise movement. The slideway 46 is carried by a suitable number of arms 52 secured on shaft I and operated by a suitable cam 53 that engages adjustable rollers 54 on levers 52.

The needle bar 41 carries the needle units,

each of which comprises a block 48 having a predetermined number of needles 48.

The needles used in this machine are of the sewing machine needle type, i. e., they are not bearded, but have simple eyes 58. Above the eyes 58 the shanks of the needles are cut away or thinned on one side as at 5! (Figs. 14 and for cooperation with the looper hooks (see Fig. 9).

The looper hooks may, in one position (Fig. 12), lie in a slot III of a blade of a guide 9 so as not to interfere with the proper action of the adjacent needle.

The needle bar 41 is shifted endwise to shift the needles at the proper times by means of a lever 82 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is mounted pivotally on a shaft 65 held rigidly in brackets 64 and operated by a pattern wheel 81. The lever 62 has a sliding abutment 83 against which a push rod 68 abuts. The rod 88 is slidably held in a suitable bearing on the end frame I and has a head 6| to slidably abut the head 58 on the end of the needle bar 4?. A spring Il'i serves to keep the parts 58, SI and 88, 83 in contact at all times while another spring I I8 keeps lever 82 in contact with pattern wheel 81. The pattern wheel 61 is mounted on a shaft 58 rotatably journalled in bearings in brackets 64.

The looper carrying bar I8 is shifted lengthwise by means of a lever 55, also pivoted on shaft 65 and operated by a cam wheel H9. Bar It has a rod 58 connected to it, which rod 58 has its free end projected into a hole in lever where it is held by means of a spring 58 and an adjustable stop 5! (see Fig. 3). Wheel H9 is hired to shaft 88.

Power is applied to the shaft by means of a gear I0 on the cam shaft, which meshes with a gear 68 on a sleeve that also has a sprocket 68 and. is loosely mounted on shaft 85. Sprocket B8 drives a chain which passes over another sprocket 88 fixed on shaft 6|.

Shaft I3 is drivenin any suitable way, as, for example, by pulley and belt 'I'I (Fig. 3).

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that-l2 and I3 are the woven-clothfeeding rolls and their shafts. The shafts are operated by a reducing sprocket and chain drive I4 from a ratchet wheel 76 on a stub shaft I5.

pawl-carrying lever I8, pivoted at I9 and operated by a cam 80 against which the roller on the lever 18 is held by a spring 8!. A back check pawl Tl also engages ratchet wheel 16.

82 represents the cloth-wind-up roll and shaft, which shaft is journalled in end bearing brackets 91. A drum 83 is loose on shaft 82, while a ratchet 84 is fast on the shaft. A pawl 85 on the drum engages the ratchet 84.

The drum 88 is turned by means of a cable 86, one end of which is anchored at 98 to the drum and the other end is attached to a lever 81, pivoted at 88 and operated by the cam 88. The lever 81 is held in engagement with the cam by a suitable spring 89.

Tension on cable 88 is effected by a second cable 93 anchored at 94 to the drum and connected to a spring 82 which is adjustably anchored to a bracket M. A second ratchet 85 is secured to roll shaft 82 and an arm 98 carries a back check pawl 86 for engaging ratchet (Fig. 2).

89 is a hand wheel shaft having a sprocket and chain connection I88 with cam shaft I3, the chai passing over an idler sprocket IGI.

Brackets I82 support the thread spool shaft 104 in bearings I83, a suitable tension device I85 being provided (Fig. 2).

Brackets I85 carry thread-guide spring-loaded rollers I81, best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

It will be seen that each end standard I, 2 has a support I88, I88, respectively, for the shaft of the woven base fabric roll. The support I08 on standard I is fixed, while support I08 on standard 2 is pivoted at I89 and has a slot H0 over a stop pin l I I. The standard 2 has an opening sufficiently large to permit insertion of the roll of base fabric through it when support IE8 is swung down out of the way.

A spring-loaded adjustably held cable H2 passes around the base fabric roll shaft H3 to tension the same (Fig. 2) as well as to hold support I88 against swinging on its pivot.

Operation It will, of course, be apparentthat the machine may be used as an ordinary fiat knitting machine or it may be used to knit through a base fabric to produce a composite fabric such for example as that depicted in Fig. 23. The machine, however, has been especially designed for the latter use and to produce such composite fabric at high speed and economically.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6 and 11 inclusive, let us assume that the machine is in operation. The needles reciprocate rapidly down and up into and out of the stationary guides, and are shifted according to the pattern as is usual practice. The movements of the needles are continuous, i. e., Without substantial periods of dwell at any point in the paths of movement of the same, thus increasing the speed of the machine considerably over that which can be obtained in machines where periods of dwell must occur in the operation of the needles. 7

Further, since sinker nibs and beard pressers are eliminated from the machine, the up and down strokes of the needles can be very materially shortened over those which take place in machines of the tricot type; hence, this is an important factor in increasing the speed at which the machine can be operated, and consequently increasing the output.

Step-by-step motion is imparted by means of a 75 Beginning at the instant when the awl has moved down into the stationary guide 9 (Fig. 6)

and is carrying a loop from a previously operated needle, it will be seen that whenthe awl has reached the position shown in Fig. 6, it will dwell in this position while the needle is moving down into the groove 35 of the awl 34 and through the loop 2' (Fig. 2). After the needle has passed the thread T through the loop 2', the awl rises from the stationary guide 9 (Fig. 8, the awl has just reached the upper limit of its stroke) while the needle is still going down.

While the needle and awl are passing from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7, the looper is moving from the position shown in Fig. 5 to its forward position (Fig. '7) where it dwells while the needle moves through the position of Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. After the eye of the needle has passed the looper hook, the looper begins its return or backward stroke (Fig. 9) to catch the thread and pull it into the form of a loop. As soon as the hook of the looper has passed back of the needle, the awl moves down again into the stationary guide 9 (Fig. whereupon the looper moves laterally in back of the awl to carry the thread about the awl and form the loop. The needle, now moving on its return stroke (Fig. 10) slips the thread from the hook of the looper (Fig. 10 to Fig. 11) and pulls it up through the loop; After the needle has passed up through the loop and out of the stationary guide 9, it is shifted according to the pattern to be produced.

The awl, in passing from the position of Fig. '7 to that of Fig. 8 frees the previously formed loop i (Fig. 6) which is now caught by the needle (Fig. 8) and the awl tilts away from the needle (Fig. 9) so as not to interfere with that loop as the awl is moved down again (Fig. 10) ready to receive the next loop i (Fig. 11).

The provision of the slots H in the looper blades, allows the loops to clear the guides 9 and pass up the awls as they straighten out on the finish of the upstroke of the needles in passing from the position of Fig. 11 back to that of Fig. 6.

While the hook of the looper is pulling the thread to form the loop (Fig. 9), the eye end of the needle is braced against the pulling force by means of the braces or abutments H4 on the blades of the guides 9 (Figs. 9 and 10).

When knitting to produce the composite fabric (Fig. 23), the base fabric w (Fig. 4) is fed in timed relation to the movements of the needles and awls, etc., by means heretoforedescribed.

When the machine is used as an ordinary knitting machine, some way should be provided to hold the cloth down so the needles will pass up out of the loops i without tightening or draw.- ing the loops. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, one of which is indicated in Fig. 24. In that construction I place one or more taut rods or wires I above the guides 9. Piano wires maybe used and anchored at their. ends to the side frames in any well known manner.

Other modifications of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown and described.

What I claim is: l

1. The method of knitting through woven fabrics, which comprises passing awls into the fabric to make openings in the same, passing threaded needles into said openings to carry thread below the fabric, looping the thread around the awls below the fabric and holding the loops open until a succeeding passage of needles through the fabric and loops occurs, then withdrawing the awls.

from the fabric to complete their cycle of oper-' ation, and shifting the needles in accordance with a pattern to be knit.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, closed-eye needles, awls, and loopers, guide for receiving and guiding said needles,said awls and said loopers, and means to operate the same in cooperative relation to effect a knitting operation.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, guides, closed-eye needles, awls cooperative with said needles and entering the guides in advance of the needles, loopers operating in the spaces between the elements of the guides for looping the thread from the needles around the awls when they are in the guidesQand' means for operating said needles, said awls and said loopers in timed relation.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles having eyes, guides, means for moving the needles into and out of the guides, needle guiding elements, means to moVe said guiding elements into the guides in advance of the needles, and means operating within the guides for looping the threads of the needles around said guiding elements while the needles are in the guides, the needle moving means and the guiding-element moving means being timed to move the needles out of the guides while the threads remain looped around the guiding elements.

' 5. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles having eyes, guides, means for moving the needles into and out of the guides, needle guiding elements, means to move said guiding elements into the guides in advance of the needles, and means operating within the guides for looping the threads of the needles around said guiding elements while the needles are in the guides, the needle moving means and the guiding-element moving means being timed tomove the needles out of the guides While the threads re main looped around the guiding elements, said needle guiding elements comprising awls.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles having eyes, guides, means for moving the needles into and out of the guides, needle guiding elements, means to move said guiding elements into the guides in advance of the needles, means operating within the guides for looping the threads of the needles around said guiding elements while the needles are in the guides, the needle moving means and the guiding-element moving means being timed to move the needles out of the guides while the threads remain looped around the guiding elements, said needle guiding elements comprising awls, and means for passing over the guides a base sheet to be knit through.- I

7. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles having eyes, guides, means for moving the needles into and out of the guides. needle guiding elements, means to move said guiding ele ments into the guides in advance of the needles, means operating within the guides for looping the threads of the needles around said guiding elements while the needlesare in the guides, the needle moving means and the guiding-element moving means being timed to move the needles out of the guides while the threads remain looped around the guiding elements, said needle guiding elements comprising awls, and means for passing a base sheet over the guides, said needle moving means and said guiding-element moving means being timed so that the awls open passages for the needles through the base sheet.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination,

guides, closed-eye needles, awls cooperative with;

said needles and entering the guides in advance of the needles, loopers operating in the spaces between the elements of the guides for looping the thread from the needles around the awls when they are in the guides, and means for operating said needles, said awls and said loopers in timed relation, said needle operating means including means to shift the needles according to the pattern to be followed in knitting.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles having eyes, guides, means for moving the needles into and out of the guides, needle guiding elements, means to move said guiding elements into the guides in advance of the needles, and means operating within the guides for looping the threads of the needles around said guiding elements while the needles are in the guides, the needle moving means and the guiding-e1ement moving means being timed to move the needles out of the guides while the threads remain looped around the guiding elements, said needle operating means including means to shift the needles according to the pattern to be followed in knitting.

I 10. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles having eyes, guides, means for mov ing the needles into and out of the guides, needle guiding elements, means to move said guiding elements into the guides in advance of the needles, means operating within the guides for looping the threads of the needles around said guiding elements while the needles are in the guides, the needle moving means and the guiding-element moving means being timed to move the needles out of the guides while the threads remain looped around the guiding elements, said needle guiding elements comprising awls, and means for passing a base sheet over the guides, said needle moving means and said guidingelement moving means being timed so that the awls open passages for the needles through the base sheet, said needle operating means including means to shift the needles according to the pattern to be followed in knitting.

11. In a knitting machine, guides having blades, needles operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, awls operating up and down into and out of, the spaces between the blades of the guides, loopers operating in the spaces between the blades of the guides to loop the thread from the needles around the awls, while they are in the guides, and means to operate the aforesaid parts in timed relation to eiIect a knitting operation.

12. In a knitting machine, guides having blades, needles operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, awls operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, loopers operating in the spaces between the blades of the guides to loop the thread from the needles around the awls, while they are in the guides, and means to operate the'aforesaid parts in timed relation to effect a knitting operation, said awls having needle guiding and receiving grooves.

13. In a knitting machine, guides having blades, provided with needle guiding and bracing elements, needles operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, awls operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, loopers operating in the spaces between the blades of the guides to loop the thread from the needles, while they are in the guides, around the awls, and means to operate the aforesaid parts in timed relation to effect a knittingoperation.

14. In a knitting machine, guides having blades, needles operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, awls operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, loopers operating in the spaces between the blades of the guides to loop the thread from the needles around the awls, while they are in the guides, and means to operate the aforesaid parts in timed relation to eiIect a knitting operation, said blades having slots, and said loopers having hooks, said operating means including means to reciprocate said hooks back and forth alongside said slots and laterally into and out of said slots.

15. In a knitting machine, guides having blades, needles operating up and down into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, awls operating up and down into and out of the spaces between. the blades of the guides, loopers operating in the spaces between the blades of the guides to loop the thread from the needles around the awls, while they are in the guides, and means to operate the aforesaid parts in timed relation to effect a knitting operation, said blades having slots, and said loopers having hooks, said operating means including means to reciprocate said hooks back and forth alongside said slots and laterally into and out of said slots, said blades having spaced lateral projections constituting braces for the needles while the loopers are in action.

16. In a knitting machine, needles having eyes for constantly carrying the threads, guides having blades between which the needles may be projected, awls cooperating with the needles and also being projectable between the blades of the guides, loopers having blades with hook portions operating between the blades of the guides, and means for operating the needles, the awls and the loopers in timed cooperative relation to effect the knitting operation.

' 17. In a knitting machine, needles having eyes for constantly carrying the threads, guides having blades between which the needles may be projected, awls cooperating with the needles and also being projectable between the blades of the guides, loopers having blades with hook portions operating constantly between the blades of the guides, and means for operating the needles,

' the awls and the loopers in timed cooperative relation to effect the knitting operation.

18. In a knitting machine, needles having eyes for constantly carrying the threads, guides having blades between which the needles may be projected, awls cooperating with the needles and also being projectable between the blades of the guides, loopers having blades with hook portions operating between the blades of the guides, and means for operating the needles, the awls and the loopers in timed cooperative relation to ei fect the knitting operation, the needle operating means including means to move the needles into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides and to shift the needles while they are out of the guides.

19. In a knitting machine,'needles having eyes for constantly carrying the threads, guides having blades between which the needles may be projected, awls cooperating with the needles and also being projectable between the blades of the guides, loopers having blades with hook portions operating between the blades of the guides, and means for operating the needles, the awls and the loopers in timed cooperative relation to effect the knitting operation, the looper operating means including means to move the looper hooks back and forth and laterally in timed relation to the actions of the needles and awls to hook the thread carried by the needles and loop it around the awls.

20. In a knitting machine, needles having eyes for constantly carrying the threads, guides having blades between which the needles may be projected, awls cooperating with the needles and also being projectable between the blades of the guides, loopers having blades with hook portions operating between the blades of the guides, means for operating the needles, the awls and the loopers in timed cooperative relation to effeet the knitting operation, and means to pass a base sheet over the guides to be knit through by the awls and needles.

21. In a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, and means to operate the same, the needle operating means comprising rocker arms, a needle bar slideway secured to and carried by said arms, a needle bar in said slideway, said needles being mounted on said bar, means for rocking said arms to effect movement of the needles into and out of the guides, and means to reciprocate said needle bar in said slideway to shift the needles whilethey are out of the guides.

22. In a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, means to operate the same, the needle operating means comprising rocker arms, a needle bar slideway secured to and carried by said arms, a needle bar in said slideway, said needles being mounted on said bar, means for rocking said arms to effect movement of the needles into and out of the guides, means to reciprocate said needle bar in said slideway to shift the needles while they are out of the guides, said last named means comprise ing a pattern Wheel, a lever rocked by said wheel, a push rod engaged by said lever and engaging said needle bar, and means to maintain contact between said push rodand said needle bar and said lever respectively.

23. In a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, and means to operate the same, the awl operating means comprising rocker arms, an awl carrying bar pivoted to said arms and carried thereby, the awls being mounted on said bar, means to rock said arms to effect movement of the awls into and out of the guides, and means to rock said awl-carrying bar on its pivot.

24. lln a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, and means to operate the same, the awl operating means com prising rocker arms, an awl carrying bar pivoted to said arms and carried thereby, the awls being mounted on said bar, means to rock said arms to effect movement of the awls into and out of the guides, means to rock said awl-carrying bar on its pivot, said last named means comprising a lever, means to rock the lever, and a connection between said lever and said awl-carrying bar, by virtue of which as said lever is rocked on its pivot said awl-carrying bar will be rocked on its pivot.

25. In a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, and means to operate the same, said loopers including blades, the looper operating means comprising a rock shaft, arms carried by and secured to said rock shaft, 9. looper-blade carrying bar, means to mount said bar on said arms to be moved bodily with the arms and to be moved parallel to said shaft inde pendently thereof, and means to move said bar parallelly to said shaft to effect the lateralmovement of the looper blades.

26. In a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, and means to operate the same, said loopers including hooks, the loopor operating means comprising means to move the looper hooks back and forth in the spaces between the elements of the guides, and means to move the hooks laterally in said spaces.

27. In a knitting machine, guides, needles having eyes, awls and loopers, and means to operate the same, said loopers including blades, the looper operating means comprising a rock shaft, arms carried by and secured to said rock shaft, a looper-blade carrying bar, means to mount said bar on said arms to be moved' bodily with the arms and to be moved parallel-to said shaft independently thereof, and means to move said bar parallelly to said shaft to effect the lateral movement of the looper blades, said last named means comprising a lever, a connection between said lever and said bar and means to rock said lever in timed relation to the action of the needles.

28. In a knitting machine, guides, awls hav ing needle guide grooves, needles each having a closed eye and a recess or groove above the eye in the side of the needle, loopers having blades with hooks movable past the needles across the grooves therein, and means to operate th needles, the awl and the loopers in timed relation to effect their cooperation.

29. In a knitting machine, guides, awls having needleguide grooves, needles each having a closed eye and a recess or groove above the eye in the side of the needle, loopers having blades with hooks movable past the needles across the grooves therein, and means to operate the needles, the awls and the loopers in timed relation so that the awls will enter the spaces between the elements of the guides in advance of the needles, and the loopers will take the thread at the needles within said spaces and loop the same about the awls, and the awls and needleswill leave the guides with the thread still looped about the awls.

30. In a knitting machine, guides, awls having needle guide grooves, needles each having a closed eye and a recess or groove above the eye in the side of the needle, loopers having blades with hooks movable past the needles across the grooves therein, said hooks having inclined edges constituting thread-slip-off elements, and means to operate the needles, the awls and the loopers in timed relation to effect their cooperation.

31. The method of knitting in machines employing guides, which method comprises passing loop-holding elements into the guides, passing threaded needles into and out of the guides adjacent the loop-holding elements, looping the thread in the guides about said elements while said elements are in the guides, and withdrawing the needles from the guides through said loops and shifting the needles according to a predetermined pattern.

32. As a new article of manufacture, a looper comprising a block having upstanding spaced blades each carrying a blade-like hook member whose free end is curved as a hook and is provided with a tapered thread-slip-off edge.

33. As a new article of manufacture, a guide having parallel blades spaced apart, and each blade being provided with a slot that includes a longitudinal slot portion and a slot portion lead,- ing' from the longitudinal slot portion to the top edge of the blade.

34. As a new article of manufacture, a guide having parallel blades spaced apart, and each blade being provided with a slot that includes a longitudinal slot portion and a slot portion leading from the longitudinal slot portion to the top edge of the blade, said blades having opposed spaced lugs constituting needle braces.

35. The method of knitting in machines em.- ploying guides having spaced blades and threaded needles, which comprises moving the needles down and up into and out of the spaces between the blades of the guides, moving loop-holding elements down and up into and out of said spaces in timed relation to the needle movements, and while the needles and loop-holding elements are in said spaces, looping the threads from the needles about said loop-holding elements, and withdrawing the loop-holding elements and nee: dles from said spaces and, after the threads have been pulled through the loops and the needles enter the loops on the next down strokes, releasing the loop-holding elements from said loops to be held by the needles while the next succeeding loops are being formed.

36. In a knitting machine, in combination, guides having spaced elements, closed-eye needles, awls cooperative with said needles and entering the guides in advance of the needles, loopers operating in the spaces between the elements of the guides for looping the thread from the needles around the awls when theyare in the guides, and means for operating said needles, .said'awls and said loopers in timed relation, and

means for holding down the knitting beyond and adjacent the needles.

3.7". In a knitting machine, in combination, guides having spaced elements, closed-eye nee dles, awls'cooperative with said needles and entering the guides in advance of the needles, loopers'operating in the spaces between the elements of the, guidesv for looping the thread from the needles around the awls when they are in the guides,,and means for operating said needles,

atlas/25 said awls and said loopers in timed relation, and means located above and spaced from the guides and under which the knitting passes for holding down the knitting while the needles are rising out of the loops. r

38. In a knitting machine, in combination, stationary guides having spaced-apart elements, needles having eyes, movable needle guiding elements cooperative with said needles and entering the stationary guides in advance of the needles, loopers operating in the spaces between the'elements of the guides for lowing the thread from the needles around the movable needle. guiding elements when those elements are. in the stationary guides, and means for operating said needles, said movable needle guiding elements and said loopers in timed relation to effect a knitting operation.

39. In a knitting machine, in combination, a stationary needle guide having spaced-apart walls, a needle having an eye, means for moving the needle into and out of the stationary guide between the walls thereof, a movable needle guiding element, means to move said movable guiding element into said stationary guide in advance of the needle, and means operating within the stationary guide for looping the thread of the needle around said needle, guiding element while the needle is in the stationary guide, the needle moving means and the needle guiding element moving means being timed to. move the needle, and the needle guiding element, out of the stationary guide while the thread remains looped around the, needle guiding element.v

40. In a knitting machine, stationary guides, knitting needles, movable needle guides and, loopers, and means to operate the same, said stationary guides having spaced-apart. plates between which the needles and movable needle guides are operable, said loopers including hooks operating within said stationary guides, the looper operating means Comprising means to move the looper hooks back and forth in the spaces, between the elements of the guides, and means to. move the hooks laterally in said spaces.

ROY C; AM IDON. 

